'Road to nowhere'

COEUR d'ALENE — During Tuesday night's meeting of the city council, David Schreiber called the newly completed Fort Grounds Drive in Coeur d'Alene a "$1.5 million road to nowhere."

Schreiber, who lives in the Fort Grounds area, spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting about concerns he has regarding a recent announcement that Fort Grounds Drive, formerly Mullan Avenue, will be closed to motorists from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The city's decision, Schreiber said, reduces the amount of emergency exits from the area, and causes congestion in the alternate routes.

"It seems like we're creating a safety problem by trying to solve a different safety problem," Schreiber said.

Kathryn Boss, another Fort Grounds resident, shared Schreiber's concerns about the seasonal closure of the road and told the council during public comment that she attended every public meeting hosted by the city in relation to the Four Corners master plan. However, according to Boss, she did not hear anything at the meetings about closing the road throughout the spring and summer months.

"Our choice was no road, or this softened one lane each way, which was the compromise we came to," Boss said. "You would expect the road closure on the Fourth of July or for Art on the Green. But on just an average weekend, I think it's very confusing."

Boss added she feels as though the inconvenience created by the closure for area residents was not considered by city officials.

"I don't mind it for special events," Boss said. "I would just like to see the road open all summer."

Although the council could not take action based on the public comments, nor do they traditionally respond to them, a brief discussion on the matter occurred during the announcement portion of the meeting. Councilman Ron Edinger asked if there were meetings held with Fort Grounds residents about closing off the road.

City Administrator Jim Hammond said there were public meetings where the closure was discussed, and Deputy City Administrator Sam Taylor worked to inform the public through social media and traditional media outlets.

Councilman Dan Gookin, who also lives in the Fort Grounds, was asked by Mayor Steve Widmyer to give his perspective on the issue as a homeowner, rather than a councilman. Gookin said there was a meeting of the homeowners association about two years ago where an informal vote was taken of homeowners in attendance on closing the road.

"It was a tie," Gookin said. "So when you read that there's an issue that's a sticking point, that's what they're referring to — that one informal poll at an HOA meeting."

Gookin added Mullan Avenue was "very dangerous" to pedestrians and that people no longer have to dodge cars to cross the street because of the improvements. But, he also said the city could have done a better job communicating with residents.

"It really wasn't codified anywhere or anything we voted on originally," Gookin said. "It just kind of happened and I think we can always do a better job of being open and transparent."

At the conclusion of the discussion, Widmyer said he has heard from other residents who are in favor of the closure, and encouraged residents to give feedback to the city on the issue.

"I appreciate the folks that came here tonight," Widmyer said. "We will keep an eye on it, we will study it, and we will make the best determination for traffic and neighbors as well."